Costco Wholesale Corp (COST)vsAlphabet Inc Class A (GOOGL)
COST
Costco Wholesale Corp
$974.86
+0.11%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $432.25B
GOOGL
Alphabet Inc Class A
$290.93
+0.17%
COMMUNICATION SERVICES · Cap: $3.65T
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Alphabet Inc Class A generates 41% more annual revenue ($402.84B vs $286.27B). GOOGL leads profitability with a 32.8% profit margin vs 3.0%. GOOGL appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.26. GOOGL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 70/100 (B).
COST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
GOOGL
Strong Buy70
out of 100
Grade: B
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-74.7%
Fair Value
$558.15
Current Price
$974.86
$416.71 premium
Margin of Safety
+42.6%
Fair Value
$505.91
Current Price
$290.93
$214.98 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Every $100 of equity generates 30 in profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Generating 1.7B in free cash flow
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 36 in profit
Keeps 33 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 31.6%
Generating 24.6B in free cash flow
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Areas to Watch
Trading at 13.5x book value
3.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.7%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Expensive relative to growth rate
Moderate valuation
Trading at 8.5x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COST
The strongest argument for COST centers on Market Cap, Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : GOOGL
The strongest argument for GOOGL centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 32.8% and operating margin at 31.6%. Revenue growth of 18.0% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : COST
The primary concerns for COST are Price/Book, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. A P/E of 50.7x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 3.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Bear Case : GOOGL
The primary concerns for GOOGL are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Price/Book.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COST profiles as a value stock while GOOGL is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
GOOGL carries more volatility with a beta of 1.11 — expect wider price swings.
GOOGL is growing revenue faster at 18.0% — sustainability is the question.
GOOGL generates stronger free cash flow (24.6B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
GOOGL scores higher overall (70/100 vs 53/100), backed by strong 32.8% margins and 18.0% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Costco Wholesale Corp
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · DISCOUNT STORES · USA
Costco Wholesale Corporation (doing business as Costco Wholesale and also known simply as Costco) is an American multinational corporation which operates a chain of membership-only (needing a membership to shop there) big-box retail stores. As of 2020, Costco was the fifth largest retailer in the world, and the world's largest retailer of choice and prime beef, organic foods, rotisserie chicken, and wine as of 2016.
Visit Website →Alphabet Inc Class A
COMMUNICATION SERVICES · INTERNET CONTENT & INFORMATION · USA
Alphabet Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mountain View, California. It was created through a restructuring of Google on October 2, 2015, and became the parent company of Google and several former Google subsidiaries. The two co-founders of Google remained as controlling shareholders, board members, and employees at Alphabet. Alphabet is the world's fourth-largest technology company by revenue and one of the world's most valuable companies.
Visit Website →Compare with Other DISCOUNT STORES Stocks
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